Sprinkler head



w. v. E. THQMPSGN 15743'665 SPRNKLER original Film1 April 18, 192,7

Patented Dec. 3l, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALTER 'VAN E. THOMPSON, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THOMPSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION F CALIFORNIA SPRINKLER HEAD Application led April 18, 1927, Serial No. 184,494. Renewed October 15, 1929.

My invention relates to spray devices and more particularly to lawn s rinklers.

In automatic lawn sprin ler systems, a large number of sprinkler heads are located near the surface of the lawn at various 1ntervals in the area to be watered and are supplied with water by underground plping. It is necessary td adjust the volume of spray emitted by each sprinkler head so that when Water is supplied to the entire "system, the whole area will be covered but no water will be sprayed outside of said area by any of the sprinkler heads.

It is correspondingly an object of my 1n vention to provide a lawn sprinkler head having means for easily adjusting the Volume of spray thrown thereby under a given pressure.

In servicing said sprinklery systems, it has been found that snail shells in the water frequently clog the sprinkler heads, thus preventing their proper functioning.

A further object of my invention 1s. to provide a lawn sprinkler head from which foreign matter carried thereinto by the 'Water supply is readily removable.

A further object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler head of the general character mentioned, in which the foreign material collected on the pressure side of the strainer means of the sprinkler head may be removed from the sprinkler head through a separate passage or cavity, which is in direct communication with the exterior of the sprinkler head.

Another object of my invention is to provide a superior lawn sprinkler head which may be produced at a low cost.

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest hereinafter.

In the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Fi 1 is a perspective View illustrating the sprin ler head.

13 Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sprinkler head shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical medial sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. f

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectionL al View taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Referring specifically to the drawin s, Fig. 1 shows a sprinkler head 10 provide upon the upper end of a water supply pipe 11 for the purpose of watering a lawn 12. The sprinkler head 10 includes a cup 14 which has a. floor 15 provided with a central openn 16,

and a wall 17 which projects from the ottom 15 at the periphery thereof and which is preferably cylindrical in form. y. Above the cup 14 is a cap 20 which has a central aperture 21. The cap 2O is preferably circular in shape and is provided with an annular ange 22 which is adapted to snugly lit over the upper end of the cylindrical wall 17. Adapted to rest upon the upper edge of the wall 17, as shown in Fig. 3, is a port plate 25 which is preferably circular in form and of-such diameter as to fit within the flange 22. The port plate 25 has incisions 26 formed at regular intervals in a peripheral zone thereof, the material of the plate 25 being outstruck in opposite directions on opposite sides ofeach incision 26 so as to form spiral ports 27. The port plate 25 has a central opening 28 and also divides the space between the cup 14 and the cap 20 into a chamber 30 and a swirling space 31. A tubular core 35 has internal threads provided in a cavity 36 thereof and openings 38, preferabl four in number, are formed in the wall o the core 35 near the lower end thereof. The openings 38 constitute a strainer means provided by the core 35 or provided by the lower end of the core 35.

In the manufacture of the sprinkler head 10, the upper end 39 of the tubular core 35 is formed of a reduced diameter so as to snugly fit within the central opening 28 of the port plate 25. The end 39 which projects above the opening 28 is then swedged down as shown in Fig. 3 to permanently secure thel upper end 39 in the opening 28. The external surface of the tubular core 35 is adapted t0 make a snug fit with the opening 16 of the cup bottom 15 when the cup 14, cap 20, port plate 25 and the tubular core 35 are assembled as shown in Fig. 3.

A threaded plug or closure means 4() is adapted to be inserted downward through the aperture 21 and screwed into the threaded cavity 36. The plug 40 has a screw driver notch 41 in the upper end thereof which may be engaged by a screw driver inserted downward through the aperture 21 so as to advance the plug 40 downward to control the operative size of the openings 38, for a purpose to be described later.

rlhe parts previously described are adapted to be retained in assembled relation by a body 50 which is preferably die cast about these parts. The body 50 has a central portion 51 which surrounds the cup 14 and a neck portion 52 which extends downward from the centralportion 51 and contacts the lower surface of the cup bottom 15 and the outer surface of the lower portion of the core 35. The neck portion 52 of the body 5() is provided with a central threaded recess 53 which extends upward to communicate with the core cavity 36. The recess 53 is adapted to threadedly receive the water supply pipe 11, shown in Fig. 1. The body 50 extends upward from the central portion 51 to provide an annular ange 55 which extends inward over the peripheral portion of the cap 20 so as to secure this permanently in assembled position upon the cup 14.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The sprinkler heads 10 are disposed at various suitable positions in an area of the lawn 12 which it is desired to sprinkle, and are connected to supply pipes 11 which are served by a single water system.

When water flows upward from the pipe 11 into the core cavity 36 when the plug 40 is disposed, as shown in Fig. 3, the water flows through the openings 38 into the chamber 30 and, passing through the spiral ports 27, assumes a rapid swirling motion in the swirling space 31. Due to the constant iiow' of water through the ports 27into the space 31, water is discharged through the aperture 21 so as to form a perfect swirling spray. As all of the sprinkler heads 10 in a givelh system are supplied with water at the same pressure, it is necessary to regulate the amount of water permitted to pass through each of the sprinkler heads 10 at this pressure. This is accomplished by screwing the plug 40 upward or downward to vary the operative size of the openings 38.

A certain amount of foreign matter, such as snail shells, is present ,in the water used in many sprinkler systems and this foreign matter tends to collect on lthe pressure side of any restriction in the water passage through the sprinkler head. Such a restriction, however, is necessary wherever the flow of water through the sprinkler head must be regulated. In sprinkler heads as previously made no nurses means was provided for openingthe water passage through the sprinkler head to the exterior of the sprinkler from the pressure side of the restricted portion of this'passage so as to permit any foreign matter which collects there to be discharged by a How of water through the sprinkler. In the sprinkler head 10, the plug 40 may be screwed upward out of. the cavity 36 so as to permit water su p11ed through the pipe 11 to pass directl) upward through the cavity 36 and the aperture 21, thus c caring out any foreign matter which may have collected 1n the cavity 36 opposite t e restricted openings 38.

It will be noted that the cavity 36 provides a direct passage through which foreign matter may be removed from the pressure side of the strainer means. The strainer means has an opening or openings which are smaller in size than the opening or openings in the port plate 25; and the opening or openings 27 are smaller than the opening 21 in the cap20. The opening 21 is as large as or larger than the cavity 36, so that any particles which enter the cavity but are too large to pass through the strainer means (openings 38) will pass outward through the opening 21 when the plug 40 is removed.' The cavity 36 is connected at its upper end to the space in direct communication with the opening -21 and is not in communication with the chamber 30; therefore any particles which cannot pass through the strainer means may be removed directly from the lower end of the cavity by removing the closure means or plug 40.

The provision of a separate cleaning port or cavity which by-passes the foreign material directly to the exterior of the sprinkler head is an important part of my invention.

The cup 14, cap 20 and the port plate 25 may be very cheaply stamped from sheetv metal and the core 35 and the plug'40 may be easily formed on a screw machine from tubular and rod material respectively. These elements may be easily assembled in the manner described, and the body 50 die cast so as to contain these parts in the manner shown in permanent assembly. The sprinkler headmay thus be produced in large quantities at an extremely low unit cost.

While I have shown but a single embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

In the appended claims I shall use` the term inlet opening to refer to that opening through which the incoming water passes to the strainer means. I shall also use the term @outlet opening which has reference to the bet-Ween said cap and said cup, there being central openings in said cup, said cap, and said plate, and eccentric ports in said plate; a core member extending between the central openings of said cup and said plate, there being a liquid supply cavity in said core member and an opening connecting said cavity with the interior of said cup ;"a closure member4 adapted to be inserted downwardly through said cap central opening into said cavity to control the operative size of said core opening; and a body formed about saidl cup and cap to hold them in assembled position, there being a liquid supply passage in said body connecting with said cavity.

2. In a sprinkler head of the class described, the combination of: walls forming a chamber having an inlet opening in the lower part through which water may enter said chamber; walls forming a second chamber adjacent to said iirst chamber, there being communication between said chambers and -scribed, the combination of: a cup having an inlet opening; a cap for said cup, having an outlet opening; a plate for dividing the interior 0f said cup and cap into a chamber and a space, said chamber being in communication with said inlet opening and said space being in communication with said outlet opening, said plate having port means connecting said chamber and said space; a core extending from said plate through said chamber towards said inlet opening and acting as a strainer means for water entering said chamber, said core-forming a cavity by which said inlet opening is connected directly to the exterior of said chamber, said cavity being capable of passing a larger sized particle than can be passed by said port means; and removable closure means for the outer end of said cavity.

4. In a sprinkler head of the class described, the combination of: a cup having an.v

inlet opening; a cap for said cup, having an outlet opening; a plate for dividing the intrior of said cup and cap into a chamber and a space, said chamber being in communication with said inlet opening and said space being in communication with sai-d outlet opening, said plate having port means connecting said chamber and said space; a core extending from said plate through said chamber towards said inlet opening and acting as a strainer means for water entering said chamber, said core forming a cavity by which said inlet opening is connected directly to said space, said cavity being of a size to pass all particles which may pass throu h said inlet opening, and to pass particles wich will not pass through said lport means; and removable closure means for the outer end of said cavity.

5. In a sprinkler' head of the class dcscribed, the combination of: a cup having an inlet opening.; a cap for said cup, having an outlet opening; a plate for dividing the interior of said cup and cap into a chamber and a space, said chamber being in communication with said inlet opening andv said space being in communication with said outlet opening, said plate having port means connecting said chamber and said space; a core extending from said plate through said chamber to wards said inlet opening and acting as a strainer means for ,water entering said chamber, said strainer means preventing particles too large to pa'ss through said port means from entering said chamber, said core forming a cavity by which said inlet opening is connected directly to the exterior of said chamber, said cavity being capable of passing a larger sized particle than can be passed by said port means; and removable closure means for the outer end of said cavity.

6. In a sprinkler head of the class described, the combination of: a cup having an inlet opening; a cap for said cup, having an outlet opening; a plate for dividing the interior of said cup and Cap into a chamber and a space, said chamber being in communication with said inlet opening and said space being in communication with said outlet opening, said plate having port means connecting said chamber and said space; a core extending from said plate through said chamber towards said inlet opening and acting as a strainer means for water entering said chamber, said strainer means preventing particles too largetopass through said portmeans from entering said chamber, said core forming a cavity by which said inlet opening isconnected directly to said space, said cavity being of a size to pass all particles which may pass through said inlet opening, and t-o pass particles which will not pass through said port means; and removable closure means for the outer end of said cavity.

7 In a sprinkler head, the combination of: a cup; a cap for said cup; a plate disposed between said cap and said cup, there being central openings in said cup, said cap, and said plate, and eccentric ports in said plate; a core member extending from said central openingv in said plate through said chamber towards said central opening in said cup, and forming strainer means for water passing into said chamber; a closure member adapted to be inserted downwardly through said cap central opening into said cavity to controlthe operatiye size tfhe strainer means formed by said core; an a bocy cup und ca tohod them formed :Loou'l said in assembled position, there eng s liquid supply passage in saicbody onneeting 'with said cavity.

In testimony whefeof7 have hereunto set my hand at Los ngees, California, this 12th day of April, 92'7..

WALTER 'VAN E THoMPsoN. 

